The Georgia is certified as malaria-free

The Georgia is certified as malaria-free

After a nearly century-long effort, Georgia has been certified malaria-free by the World Health Organization (WHO). With today's announcement, Georgia joins the ranks of 45 countries and 1 territory that have reached this milestone.

“Today we congratulate the people of Georgia on their decades of targeted and sustained action to eliminate malaria, one of the world’s leading killers,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the general director. “Georgia’s commitment and success give us hope that a malaria-free world is possible.”

This is a huge milestone worth marking. With Georgia's achievement, the WHO European region is another step closer to being certified as the world's first malaria-free region. This is not happening in a vacuum, this has been made possible thanks to sustained investment, commitment of the health workforce and targeted efforts to prevent, early detect and effectively treat all cases of malaria. “

Dr. Hans Henri P. Kluge, the regional director for Europe

Certification of malaria elimination is granted by WHO when a country has demonstrated beyond doubt that the chain of indigenous transmission has been broken nationwide for the past three consecutive years.

Health Minister Mikheil Sarjveladze noted that certifying Georgia as malaria-free is recognition of the sustainability of its health system: “This success means Georgia can address important health challenges.”

A long-standing challenge

Malaria has plagued Georgia since ancient times. Before the introduction of systematic control efforts in the early 20th century, at least 3 malaria parasite species-P. falciparum, P. malariae and P. vivax-were endemic to the country. In the 1920s, an estimated 30% of the population suffered from malaria caused by theP.VivaxMalaria species.

By 1940, large mosquito control programs of mosquitoes had helped significantly reduce cases of malaria through improved access to diagnostic and treatment facilities. However, a few years later, World War II caused another surge due to population movement and strain on health care facilities.

In the postwar period, Georgia launched an intensive malaria elimination program using newer drugs, insecticide spraying, and robust entomological surveillance. The campaign interrupted the transmission of successfullyP. falciparumuntil 1953,P. Malariaeuntil 1960 andP.Vivaxuntil 1970.

Georgia remained malaria-free for 25 years, but by 2002 malaria had re-emerged with 474 reported cases in the country.

Renewed commitments to stop the disease

In 2005, Georgia joined 9 other European WHO countries in signing the Tashkent Declaration, reaffirming its promise to eliminate malaria. The intensified interventions that followed significantly reduced malaria incidence in Georgia, with the last indigenous case recorded in 2009. As of 2015, all 53 countries in the WHO region, including Georgia, reported no indigenous cases of malaria.

To prevent further re-establishment of malaria transmission in the region, the original signatories of the Tashkent Declaration issued the Ashgabat Declaration in 2017 to make every effort to remain malaria-free. Türkiye is the only country in the European WHO that is still being certified.

In 2024, during Georgia's malaria-free certification process, members of the Malaria Elimination and Certification Technical Advisory Group, an independent WHO advisory body, noted that Georgia has a well-functioning and adequate health system, a strong public-private collaboration, a well-timed health system, cooperation, cooperation, cooperation, cooperation, cooperation, an adequate and political commitment to maintaining a malaria-free status.

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